Picking the Right Gear: Boots
- West
- Sep 16
- 5 min read
When people ask me about boots for milsim, I always feel like I could write an entire book on the subject. There’s just so much out there on the market – countless models, endless marketing claims – but surprisingly few players actually know what they’re buying. And trust me: if you don’t have the right footwear, you’re going to find out the hard way.
Your feet are your most important asset in the field. Get them wrong, and they will punish you. Blisters can ruin an entire event, and once they’ve started, you’re looking at days – even a week – of recovery before you can walk normally again. Avoid this at all costs.
Why Boots Matter in Milsim
Milsim events are often long, physically demanding, and held in environments designed to challenge you. Whether you’re trekking through thick woodland, sprinting across open fields, or climbing through abandoned buildings, your boots are doing more work than any other piece of kit you carry.
A proper pair of boots will:
Support your ankles when carrying heavy loads or moving over uneven ground.
Protect your feet from sharp rocks, roots, and debris.
Provide traction on mud, wet grass, or slippery urban surfaces.
Keep your feet dry in rain or swamps – or cool in hot climates.
Reduce fatigue so you can stay operational for longer.
This is why the military invests so much in footwear – and why you should too.
Boot Heights: Low, Mid, and High
When talking about milsim boots, I like to simplify things into three categories:
Low-cut: Below the ankle. Think of your everyday sneakers or lightweight tactical shoes. Agile and fast, but minimal support.
Mid-cut: Just over the ankle. A solid balance between mobility and protection.
High-cut: Up to the middle of the shin. Maximum ankle support and protection in rough, uneven terrain, but heavier and more restrictive for running.
The rule of thumb is simple:
Flatter, easier terrain → lower boots work fine.
Steeper, rougher, or more tangled terrain → you need higher boots for support.
No single boot does it all perfectly. Personally, I have five pairs in my “airsoft closet,” each with a different purpose. For casual Sunday skirmishes, I grab my Salomon Speed Assaults – light, fast, and perfect for short games. But for demanding milsim events with long marches, I rely on my Lundhags Forest II boots – rugged, durable, and built for endurance. Two completely different pairs, both essential.
That’s the mindset you should adopt: think about where and how you’ll be using them.
Features to Pay Attention To
Aside from boot height, look closely at the features:
Water resistance: Waterproof boots are great in wet terrain, but they trap more heat.
Breathability: Keeps your feet cooler, but lets water in.
Maintenance: Boots last much longer if you clean and treat them regularly.
Material: All of the above is connected to the material used for the boots. Leather usually requires less maintenance (though still some!), has better durability, and often provides better waterproofing. Gore-Tex has better breathability, requires less time to break in, and is often more comfortable to wear and run in.
Taking care of your boots isn’t optional – it’s what separates gear that lasts years from gear that falls apart after one season.
The Overlooked Essential: Socks
This is where so many players go wrong. Socks are just as important as boots – maybe even more.
You want wool socks. Here’s why:
Wool is more durable than cotton.
It manages moisture better (yes, even in “waterproof” boots you will sweat).
It’s gentler on your skin.
It dries quickly.
And most importantly: it keeps your feet warm even when wet.
The best system for most is two pairs of socks per foot:
A thin wool pair directly against your skin.
A second outer layer (even cheap ones, like basic H&M socks) on top.
This combo reduces friction, helps prevent blisters, and keeps a better fit inside the boot. The only caveat: your foot must still be able to breathe. If the double-layer system feels too tight, drop to a single pair. Personally, I mix it up depending on the weather (read: temperature). But honestly, the standard gray wool socks from the Swedish Armed Forces do the job for a low cost.
Golden rule: change your socks before they get wet. A good rhythm is swapping every march session – roughly every 5km or 50 minutes of movement. Change one pair too often rather than one pair too little. The pair you just swapped out? Hang them on your pack or belt and they’ll dry for reuse later.
Shell Boots for Longer Ops
For longer milsim events, a pair of unlined shell boots can be a lifesaver. Models like the Lundhags Forest II shine here. The lack of internal padding means there’s nothing inside the boot to soak up your sweat. That’s important because moisture build-up = blister factory. By reducing how much water your boots hold, you dramatically lower the risk of destroying your feet mid-event.
Types of Boots to Consider
Surplus Combat Boots
Cheap and authentic.
Heavy, stiff, and often uncomfortable until heavily broken in.
Good for budget players or those chasing realism.
Modern Tactical Boots
Lightweight, breathable, and designed for long wear.
Brands like 5.11, Bates, or Magnum are common choices.
Excellent middle ground between comfort and price.
High-End Professional Boots
Designed for military, police, and outdoor professionals.
Brands like Lowa, Salomon, Meindl, and Haix.
Expensive, but unbeatable in comfort, durability, and performance.
As a caveat, I would personally stay away from "high-end" Gore-Tex boots. They tend to be very expensive, and most of the boots I’ve had from brands like Salomon give up after just 2–3 years, even with maintenance — and those kinds of boots are a pain to clean properly. The water-resistant coating also wears out very quickly, even though you reapply it every now and then.
Also, most of the time I go for civilian hiking boots, since they often offer better comfort, price, and performance.
Maintenance and Longevity
Take care of your boots and they’ll take care of you:
Clean mud and dirt after each event.
Dry them slowly – avoid direct heat, which can damage materials.
Reapply waterproofing spray or wax as needed.
Replace insoles if they wear out (aftermarket insoles can greatly improve comfort).
TAKE CARE OF YOUR BOOTS!
Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Boots are deeply personal, tied to terrain, climate, and playstyle. Some events call for lightweight speed shoes, others for heavy-duty mountain boots. What never changes, though, is this: your feet decide how long you can keep playing.
So don’t treat footwear as an afterthought. Invest in quality boots, treat them well, and pair them with the right socks. Do that, and you’ll stay in the fight long after others have limped off the field.
👉 Next up in the “Picking the Right Gear” series, we’ll move from your feet up to sleep systems – what to look for, how to pick the right products for the season, and which features are worth paying for. Is there anything else you would like us to give our thoughts about, please let us know in the comments below!
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